Written Answers Tuesday 24 May 2005

Scottish Executive

Alcohol Misuse

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15101 by Rhona Brankin on 21 March 2005, what percentage of total alcohol consumed was consumed by the 25% of men and 8% of women who, in 2003, were drinking in excess of the recommended weekly limits.

Rhona Brankin: It has not been possible to reply to the member within the allocated deadline, due to the complexity of the information. Once the relevant information becomes available, I shall write to the member and place a copy of my reply in the Parliament’s Reference Centre.

Building (Scotland) Act 2003

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what monitoring procedures are required for the safe implementation of electrical work as a consequence of the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  Where work is the subject of a Certificate of Construction, compliance is certified by the installer through a certification system operated by a scheme provider appointed by Scottish ministers.

  Where work is not the subject of a Certificate of Construction, it is the duty of the local authority, as verifier, to make reasonable enquiry to determine compliance.

Building (Scotland) Act 2003

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether all local authorities are in a position to assess that electrical work carried out under building warrant has been done by qualified personnel.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  Local authority verifiers are not required to assess the qualification of installers. The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 require that an installation be fit for purpose and meet the requirements of the functional standards. They do not require qualification of persons carrying out electrical work.

  Local authority verifiers have been given direction advising them on the extent of inspection of electrical installations that may be appropriate, and evidence of compliance to be requested, where works are not covered by a Certificate of Construction.

Building (Scotland) Act 2003

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what qualifications persons carrying out electrical work require to comply with the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The Building (Scotland) Regulations 2004 require that an installation be fit for purpose and meet the requirements of the functional standards. Neither the regulations, nor the Building (Scotland) Act 2003, require qualification of persons carrying out electrical work.

Building (Scotland) Act 2003

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has considered establishing a domestic installers’ scheme for persons carrying out domestic electrical work in compliance with the Building (Scotland) Act 2003.

Johann Lamont: I have asked Dr Paul Stollard, Chief Executive of the Scottish Building Standards Agency (SBSA), to answer. His response is as follows:

  The Building (Scotland) Act 2003 introduced the option of certification and a scheme for the Certification of Construction (Electrical Installations to BS 7671) has been in operation since 1 May 2005. Scottish ministers approved the scheme in December 2004 and the SBSA appointed SELECT (electrical contractors’ association in Scotland) as a scheme provider. Details of the scheme can be found in the scheme guide which is available on the SELECT web site at www.select.org.uk.

Fisheries

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will conduct a survey into the value of recreational sea angling to the economy.

Ross Finnie: The Scottish Executive, in partnership with the Scottish Inshore Fisheries Advisory Group, is considering the commissioning of a report on the economic impact of sea angling.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of Communities Scotland’s funding has been allocated in each of the last three years for the purpose of (a) building and (b) conducting research and development into innovative and sustainable housing, shown also as a percentage of total Communities Scotland funding in each year.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows:

  Communities Scotland does not classify individual projects as innovative and/or sustainable, as the agency encourages the incorporation of sustainable design principles in all developments. This involves the measurement of the following indicators for all projects:

  
energy efficiency as measured by average performance SAP ratings
  average energy (space and water heating) costs per annum (£)
  average CO2 emissions per annum (tonnes)
  number of new units built on "brownfield" sites
  existence of a verifiable sustainable development policy (for RSLs engaged in housing development)
  space standards as per average resident capacity
  the level of housing for varying needs barrier free compliance
  the level of secured by design dwellings.


  Therefore, Communities Scotland’s funding, allocated in each of the last three years for projects which incorporate sustainable features has been as follows:

  

 Year 
Expenditure(£ Million)
Percentage of Communities Scotland’s Capital Housing Investment Programme


2002-03
209
100%


2003-04
255
100%


2004-05*
294
100% 



  Note: *Estimate as accounts for 2004-05 yet to be finalised.

  In addition, all social landlords have been advised to prepare Standard Delivery Plans by 29 April 2005 for meeting the Scottish Housing Quality Standard by 2015. Guidance on preparing these plans has been prepared by Communities Scotland. In these plans, landlords will require to show that they can meet their obligations to ensure their stock is properly repaired, managed and sustainable.

  Communities Scotland will consider innovative proposals provided they meet value for money criteria and that any additional capital costs attributable to the innovative features provide accruing benefits. The level of grant approved by Communities Scotland for projects is based on a comprehensive and consistent assessment system designed to ensure that the public funding offered is the minimum necessary to enable each project to proceed while maintaining high standards of design, construction and sustainability.

  With regard to research and development into innovative and sustainable design, Communities Scotland first published in March 2000 its Sustainable Development Policy which was supported by the Sustainable Housing Design Guide. This guide was intended as a reference source to assist all developers in preparing development briefs, specifications and options for improving the sustainability of housing. This guide has been regularly updated since that time, most recently in November 2004 when an internet-based version was commissioned: www.official-documents.co.uk/document/deps/cs/shdg/index.html.

  In the last three years, and complementing the Sustainable Housing Design Guide, Communities Scotland has recently been associated with two research studies. The first of these, funded by a Sustainable Development Action Grant from the Scottish Executive, deals with design for deconstruction. In the second study, Communities Scotland is working with Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP) to evaluate the economics and practicality of setting requirements for increasing the recycled content of building materials as a potential condition of funding in the procurement of social housing projects. Both studies have been funded by the Scottish Executive rather than Communities Scotland.

Housing

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive to what extent conditions are attached to public housing subsidy to help encourage sustainability and innovative design.

Malcolm Chisholm: I have asked Angiolina Foster, Chief Executive of Communities Scotland, to respond. Her response is as follows.

  Communities Scotland through its unit approval funding process encourages the incorporation of sustainable design principles in all developments. This involves taking account of the following indicators for all projects:

  
energy efficiency as measured by average performance SAP ratings
  average energy (space and water heating) costs per annum (£)
  average CO2 emissions per annum (tonnes)
  number of new units built on "brownfield" sites
  existence of a verifiable sustainable development policy (for registered social landlords engaged in housing development)
  space standards as per average resident capacity
  the level of housing for varying needs barrier free compliance
  the level of secured by design dwellings.

Ministerial Correspondence

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will reply to Alex Salmond MP’s letter of 6 March 2005 regarding the A90: Hatton Bends.

Nicol Stephen: This letter was replied to on Monday 23 May 2005.

NHS Boards

Fergus Ewing (Inverness East, Nairn and Lochaber) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to reduce the number of NHS boards and, in the event that NHS Argyll and Clyde is reformed, whether its debt would be annulled or transferred in whole or in part to any successor body or bodies.

Mr Andy Kerr: I refer the member to the statement I made to Parliament on these matters on 19 May 2005.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new police recruits were from a (a) white and (b) non-white background in each of the last five years, broken down by police force, showing the year-on-year percentage change and the percentage of each year’s intake represented by each group.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is set out in the following tables.

  1999-2000

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over1998-99
VisibleEthnic
Change in Number of Recruits Over 1998-99
Percentage of Total Recruits


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
26
-45.8%
0
-1
100%
0%


Dumfries and Galloway
21
-46.2%
1
1
95.5%
0.5%


Fife
40
-62.5%
1
1
97.6%
2.4%


Grampian
24
-71.8%
1
1
96%
4%


Lothian and Borders
62
-25.8%
2
0
96.9%
3.1%


Northern
23
-47.8%
0
-1
100%
0%


Strathclyde
250
-26.3%
7
3
97.3%
2.7%


Tayside
38
-48.6%
0
1
100%
0%


Total
484
-36.5%
12
3
97.6%
2.4%



  2000-01

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over1999-2000
VisibleEthnic
Change in Number of Recruits Over 1999-2000
Percentage of Total Recruits


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
39
50%
0
0
100%
0%


Dumfries and Galloway
46
119%
0
-1
100%
0%


Fife
50
25%
0
-1
100%
0%


Grampian
115
379.2%
0
-1
100%
0%


Lothian and Borders
181
191.9%
8
6
95.8%
4.2%


Northern
43
86.9%
2
2
95.6%
4.4%


Strathclyde
493
97.2%
10
3
98%
2%


Tayside
65
71%
1
1
98.5%
1.5%


Total
1,032
113.2%
21
9
98%
2%



  2001-02

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over2000-01
VisibleEthnic
Change in Number of Recruits Over 2000-01
Percentage of Total Recruits


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
16
-59%
0
0
100%
0%


Dumfries and Galloway
23
-50%
0
0
100%
0%


Fife
94
88%
0
0
100%
0%


Grampian
56
-51.3%
0
0
100%
0%


Lothian and Borders
154
14.9%
3
-5
98.1%
1.9%


Northern
45
4.7%
0
-10
100%
0%


Strathclyde
306
-37.9%
6
4
98.1%
1.9%


Tayside
67
3.1%
0
-1
100%
0%


Total
761
-26.3%
9
-12
98.8%
1.2%



  2002-03

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over2001-02
VisibleEthnic
Change in Number of Recruits Over 2001-02
Percentage of Total Recruits


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
49
206.3%
0
0
100%
0%


Dumfries and Galloway
19
-17.4%
0
0
100%
0%


Fife
60
-36.2%
1
1
98.4%
1.6%


Grampian
67
19.6%
0
0
100%
0%


Lothian and Borders
128
-16.9%
3
0
97.7%
2.3%


Northern
30
-33.3%
0
0
100%
0%


Strathclyde
440
43.7%
6
0
98.7%
1.3%


Tayside
47
-29.8%
0
0
100%
0%


Total
840
10.4%
10
1
98.8%
1.2%



  2003-04

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over2002-03
VisibleEthnic
Change in Number of Recruits Over 2002-03
Percentage of Total Recruits


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
39
-20.4%
1
1
97.5%
2.5%


Dumfries and Galloway
23
+21%
1
1
95.6%
4.4%


Fife
83
38.3%
1
0
98.8%
1.2%


Grampian
125
86.6%
0
0
100%
0%


Lothian and Borders
198
54.7%
0
-3
100%
0%


Northern
31
3.3%
0
0
100%
0%


Strathclyde
406
-7.7%
9
3
97.8%
2.2%


Tayside
47
0%
2
2
95.9%
4.1%


Total
952
13.3%
14
4
98.6%
1.4%



  Source: Annual Statistical Returns from forces to Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) white and (b) non-white police officers were employed by each police force in each of the last five years, showing the year-on-year percentage change and the percentage of the total number represented by each group.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is set out in the following tables.

  1999-2000

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over1998-99
VisibleEthnic
Percentage Change Over 1998-99
Percentage of Total Officers


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
719
0.3%
2
0%
99.7%
0.3%


Dumfries and Galloway
450
3%
1
100%
99.8%
0.2%


Fife
834
-1.2%
3
50%
99.6%
0.4%


Grampian
1,211
-2.8%
4
33.3%
99.7%
0.3%


Lothian and Borders
2,573
-1.4%
11
83.3%
99.6%
0.4%


Northern
652
-1.1%
1
0%
99.9%
0.2%


Strathclyde
7,056
-0.58%
45
18.4%
99.4%
0.6%


Tayside
1,134
-1.1%
3
0%
99.8%
0.3%


Total
14,629
-0.9%
70
27.27%
99.5%
0.5%



  2000-01

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over1999-2000
VisibleEthnic
Percentage Change Over 1999-2000
Percentage of Total Officers


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
731
1.7%
2
0%
99.7%
0.3%


Dumfries and Galloway
477
6%
1
0%
99.8%
0.2%


Fife
848
1.7%
4
33.3%
99.5%
0.5%


Grampian
1,268
4.7%
5
25%
99.6%
0.4%


Lothian and Borders
2,652
3.1%
18
63.7%
99.3%
0.7%


Northern
665
2%
3
200%
99.6%
0.5%


Strathclyde
7,263
2.9%
55
22.2%
99.3%
0.8%


Tayside
1,154
1.8%
3
0%
99.7%
0.3%


Total
15,058
2.9%
91
30%
99.4%
0.6%



  2001-02

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over2000-01
VisibleEthnic
Percentage Change Over 2000-01
Percentage of Total Officers


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
717
-1.9%
2
0%
99.7%
0.3%


Dumfries and Galloway
481
0.8%
1
0%
99.8%
0.2%


Fife
909
7.2%
3
-25%
99.7%
0.3%


Grampian
1,253
-1.2%
5
0%
99.6%
0.4%


Lothian and Borders
2,679
1%
21
16.7%
99.2%
0.8%


Northern
681
2.4%
2
-33.3%
99.7%
0.3%


Strathclyde
7,272
0.1%
55
0%
99.3%
0.8%


Tayside
1,166
1%
4
33.3%
99.7%
0.3%


Total
15,158
0.7%
93
2.2%
99.4%
0.6%



  2002-03

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over2001-02
VisibleEthnic
Percentage Change Over 2001-02
Percentage of Total Officers


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
737
2.8%
2
0%
99.7%
0.3%


Dumfries and Galloway
480
-0.2%
1
0%
99.8%
0.2%


Fife
930
2.3%
4
33.3%
99.6%
0.4%


Grampian
1,281
2.2%
4
-20%
99.7%
0.3%


Lothian and Borders
2,691
0.5%
23
9.5%
99.2%
0.9%


Northern
689
1.2%
2
0%
99.7%
0.3%


Strathclyde
7,420
2%
56
1.8%
99.3%
0.8%


Tayside
1,162
-0.3%
5
25%
99.6%
0.4%


Total
15,390
1.5%
97
4.3%
99.4%
0.6%



  2003-04

  

 
White
Percentage Change Over2002-03
VisibleEthnic
Percentage Change Over 2002-03
Percentage of Total Officers


White
Visible Ethnic


Central
757
2.7%
3
50%
99.6%
0.4%


Dumfries and Galloway
488
1.7%
1
%
99.8%
0.2%


Fife
975
4.8%
4
%
99.6%
0.2%


Grampian
1,335
4.2%
3
-25%
99.9%
0.2%


Lothian and Borders
2,718
1%
30
30.4%
98.9%
1.1%


Northern
681
-1.2%
2
%
99.7%
0.3%


Strathclyde
7,372
-0.6%
58
3.6%
98.2%
1.8%


Tayside
1,151
-1%
5
%
99.6%
0.4%


Total
15,477
0.6%
106
9.3%
99.3%
0.7%



  Source: Annual Statistical Returns from forces to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary. Figures are on a head count basis rather than whole-time equivalent.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many new police recruits were (a) male and (b) female in each of the last five years, broken down by police force, showing the year-on-year percentage change and the percentage of each year’s intake represented by each group.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is set out in the following table.

  1999-2000

  

 
Male
Percentage Change Over1998-99
Female
Percentage Change Over 1998-99
Percentage of Total Recruits


Male
Female


Central
22
-26.7%
4
-20%
84.6%
15.4%


Dumfries and Galloway
13
-7.2%
9
50%
59.1%
40.9%


Fife
30
57.9%
11
37.5%
73.2%
26.8%


Grampian
17
-78.2%
8
-63.7%
68%
32%


Lothian and Borders
47
113.6%
17
70%
73.4%
26.6%


Northern
15
25%
8
-11.1%
65.2%
34.8%


Strathclyde
186
200%
71
144.8%
72.4%
27.6%


Tayside
21
-22.2%
17
13.3%
55.3%
44.7%


Total
351
33%
145
39.4%
70.8%
29.2%



  2000-01

  

 
Male
Percentage Change Over1999-2000
Female
Percentage Change Over 1999-2000
Percentage of Total Recruits


Male
Female


Central
29
31.8%
10
150%
74.4%
25.6%


Dumfries and Galloway
31
138.5%
15
66.7%
67.4%
32.6%


Fife
37
23.3%
13
18.2%
74%
26%


Grampian
81
376.5%
34
325%
70.4%
29.6%


Lothian and Borders
131
178.7%
58
241.2%
69.3%
30.7%


Northern
25
66.7%
20
150%
55.6%
44.4%


Strathclyde
340
82.8%
163
129.6%
67.6%
32.4%


Tayside
40
90.5%
26
52.9%
60.6%
39.4%


Total
714
103.4%
339
133.8%
67.8%
32.2%



  2001-02

  

 
Male
Percentage Change Over2000-01
Female
Percentage Change Over 2000-01
Percentage of Total Recruits


Male
Female


Central
13
-55.2%
3
-70%
81.3%
18.8%


Dumfries and Galloway
20
-35.5%
3
-80%
87%
13%


Fife
70
89.2%
24
84.6%
74.5%
25.5%


Grampian
44
-45.7%
12
-64.7%
78.6%
21.4%


Lothian and Borders
115
-12.2%
42
-27.6%
73.3%
26.8%


Northern
37
48%
8
-60%
82.2%
17.8%


Strathclyde
217
-36.2%
95
-41.7%
69.6%
30.5%


Tayside
42
5%
25
-3.9%
62.7%
37.3%


Total
558
-21.9%
212
-37.5%
72.5%
27.5%



  2002-03

  

 
Male
Percentage Change Over2001-02
Female
Percentage Change Over 2001-02
Percentage of Total Recruits


Male
Female


Central
32
146.2%
17
466.7
65.3%
34.7%


Dumfries and Galloway
16
-20%
3
0.%
84.2%
15.8%


Fife
41
-41.4%
20
-16.7%
67.2%
32.8%


Grampian
48
9.1%
19
58.3%
71.6%
28.4%


Lothian and Borders
96
-16.5%
35
-16.7%
73.3%
26.7%


Northern
16
-56.8%
14
75%
53.3%
46.7%


Strathclyde
299
37.8%
147
54.7%
67%
33%


Tayside
34
-19.1%
13
-48%
72.3%
27.7%


Total
582
4.3%
268
26.4%
68.5%
31.5%



  2003-04

  

 
Male
Percentage Change Over2002-03
Female
Percentage Change Over 2002-03
Percentage of Total Recruits


Male
Female


Central
24
-25%
16
-5.9%
60.00%
40%


Dumfries and Galloway
15
-6.3%
9
200%
62.50%
37.5%


Fife
56
36.6%
28
40%
66.67%
33.3%


Grampian
85
77.1%
40
110.5%
68.00%
32%


Lothian and Borders
153
59.4%
45
28.6%
77.27%
22.7%


Northern
19
18.8%
12
-14.3%
61.29%
38.7%


Strathclyde
274
-8.4%
141
-4.1%
66.02%
34%


Tayside
34
0%
15
15.4%
69.39%
30.6%


Total
660
13.4%
306
14.2%
68.32%
31.7%



  Source: Annual Statistical Returns from forces to Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Constabulary.

Police

Richard Lochhead (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) male and (b) female police officers were employed by each police force in each of the last five years, showing the year-on-year percentage change and the percentage of the total number represented by each group.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is set out in the following tables.

  1999-2000 (Headcount)

  

Force
Male
Percentage Change Over1998-99
Female
Percentage Change Over 1998-99
Percentage of Total Officers


Male
Female


Central
621
0.3%
100
0%
86.1%
13.8%


Dumfries and Galloway
367
-1.7%
84
10.5%
81.4%
18.6%


Fife
709
1.3%
128
0%
84.7%
15.3%


Grampian
1,006
3.3%
209
0%
82.8%
17.2%


Lothian and Borders
2,193
1.3%
391
-0.5%
84.8%
15.1%


Northern
566
2.1%
87
6.1%
86.7%
13.3%


Strathclyde
5,977
1.2%
1,124
3.9%
84.2%
15.8%


Tayside
935
2.3%
202
5.2%
82.2%
17.8%


Total
12,374
1.4%
2,325
2.7%
84.2%
15.8%



  2000-01 (Headcount)

  

Force
Male
Percentage Change Over1999-2000
Female
Percentage Change Over 1999-2000
Percentage of Total Officers


Male
Female


Central
625
0.6%
108
8%
85.3%
14.7%


Dumfries and Galloway
383
4.4%
95
13.1%
80.1%
19.9%


Fife
713
0.6%
139
8.6%
83.7%
16.3%


Grampian
1,037
3.1%
236
12.9%
81.5%
18.5%


Lothian and Borders
2,226
1.5%
444
13.6%
83.4%
16.6%


Northern
561
-0.9%
107
23%
84%
16%


Strathclyde
6,067
1.5%
1,251
11.3%
82.9%
17.1%


Tayside
935
0%
222
9.9%
80.8%
19.2%


Total
12,547
1.4%
2,602
11.9%
82.8%
17.2%



  2001-02 (Headcount)

  

Force
Male
Percentage Change Over2000-01
Female
Percentage Change Over 2000-01
Percentage of Total Officers


Male
Female


Central
612
-2.1%
107
-0.9%
85.1%
14.9%


Dumfries and Galloway
388
1.3%
94
-1.1%
80.5%
19.5%


Fife
753
5.6%
159
14.4%
82.6%
17.4%


Grampian
1,004
-3.2%
254
7.6%
79.8%
20.2%


Lothian and Borders
2,230
0.2%
470
5.9%
82.6%
17.4%


Northern
570
1.6%
113
5.6%
83.5%
16.5%


Strathclyde
6,025
-0.7%
1,302
4.1%
82.2%
17.4%


Tayside
931
-0.4%
239
7.7%
79.6
20.4%


Total
12,513
-0.3%
2,738
5.2%
82.1%
18%



  2002-03 (Headcount)

  

Force
Male
Percentage Change Over2001-02
Female
Percentage Change Over 2001-02
Percentage of Total Officers


Male
Female


Central
614
0.3%
125
16.8%
83.1%
16.9%


Dumfries and Galloway
387
-0.3%
94
0%
80.5%
19.5%


Fife
763
1.3%
171
7.6%
81.7%
18.3%


Grampian
1,038
3.4%
247
-2.8%
80.8%
19.2%


Lothian and Borders
2,233
0.1%
481
2.3%
82.3%
17.7%


Northern
566
-0.1%
125
10.2%
81.9%
18.1%


Strathclyde
6,064
0.7%
1,412
8.5%
81.1%
18.9%


Tayside
925
-0.7%
242
1.3%
79.3%
20.7%


Total
12,590
0.6%
2,897
5.8%
81.3%
18.7%



  2003-04 (Whole-time equivalent)

  

Force
Male
Percentage Change Over2002-03
Female
Percentage Change Over 2002-03
Percentage of Total Officers


Male
Female


Central
625.00
1.8%
134.6
14%
82.3%
17.7%


Dumfries and Galloway
390.00
0.9%
98.5
8.7%
79.8%
20.2%


Fife
790.00
3.7%
189.0
14.3%
80.7%
19.4%


Grampian
1,084.00
4.5%
254.3
10.3%
81%
19%


Lothian and Borders
2,274.98
2%
474
4.8%
82.8%
17.2%


Northern
552.75
-2.2%
130
6.7%
81%
19%


Strathclyde
6,048.00
-0.2%
1,382
1.3%
81%
18.6%


Tayside
920.33
-0.5%
236
0.6%
79.6%
20.4%


Total
12,685.06
0.8%
2,898
4.3%
81.4%
18.6%



  2004-05 (Whole-time equivalent)

  

Force
Male
Percentage Change Over2003-04
Female
Percentage Change Over 2003-04
Percentage of Total Officers


Male
Female


Central
667.60
6.8%
163.90
21.8%
80.3%
19.7%


Dumfries and Galloway
383.00
-1.8%
97.28
-1.2%
79.8%
20.3%


Fife
798.20
1%
197.89
4.4%
80.1%
19.9%


Grampian
1,091.77
0.7%
278.53
9.5%
79.7%
20.3%


Lothian and Borders
2,288.77
0.6%
514.47
8.8%
81.7%
18.4%


Northern
558.63
1.1%
143.55
10.4%
79.6%
20.4%


Strathclyde
6,098.47
0.8%
1,569.44
13.6%
79.6%
20.5%


Tayside
914.33
-0.7%
252.02
6.8%
78.4%
21.6%


Total
12,801
0.9%
3,217.08
11%
79.9%
20.1%



  Source: Quarterly Strength Return.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many assaults by prisoners on other prisoners there have been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The number of serious assaults by prisoners on prisoners is published in SPS annual reports. 2004-05 figures have yet to be audited for the SPS annual report. The breakdown by establishment was:

  

 
2001-02
2002-03
2003-04


Aberdeen
10
6
8


Barlinnie
10
28
8


Castle Huntly
1
0
0


Cornton Vale
 
0
2


Dumfries
3
3
4


Dungavel
 
0
0


Edinburgh
12
14
8


Glenochil
10
11
4


Greenock
4
4
1


Inverness
 
0
4


Kilmarnock
10
16
8


Low Moss
5
11
1


Noranside
 
1
0


Perth
4
14
16


Peterhead
2
0
2


Polmont
8
15
11


Shotts
6
4
9"

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the needs and risk numbers have been in each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution in each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  The 2003-04 figures are given in the following table. The 2004-05 figures have yet to be audited for the SPS Annual Report.

  

 
2003-04


Aberdeen
0


Barlinnie
3


Castle Huntly
37


Cornton Vale
62


Dumfries
14


Edinburgh
88


Glenochil
401


Greenock
31


Inverness
0


Low Moss
0


Noranside
17


Perth
282


Peterhead
251


Polmont
134


Shotts
431



  Such information was not previously collected.

Prison Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the budget has been of each (a) prison and (b) young offenders institution for each of the last three years.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) to respond. His response is as follows:

  Information on local budgets for 2004-05 are:

  

 
2004-05(£ Million)


Aberdeen
 5.9


Barlinnie
 23.3


Cornton Vale
 9.1


Dumfries
 5.4


Edinburgh
 16.8


Glenochil
 13.8


Greenock
 6.9


Inverness
 4.0


Low Moss
 6.4


Open Estate
 5.5


Perth
 16.2


Peterhead
 8.3


Polmont
 14.8


Shotts
 14.7



  Notes:

  1. Performance Contracts were introduced in 2004-05, these allocated local budgets for delivering specific outputs.

  2. In addition to the "local" budgets there were, and are a number of significant costs for public prisons which were and are met centrally for the SPS as a whole and not disaggregated.

  3. During 2004-05 a number of central budgets were devolved e.g. Psychologists. Like for like budgets at local level are therefore not available for prior years.

Prison Service

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it reconciles the answer to question S1W-33992 by Mr Jim Wallace on 3 March 2003 with the answer to question S2W-16103 by Cathy Jamieson on 4 May 2005 in respect of the number of instances in which a serious assault has occurred in HM Prison Kilmarnock but no performance points have accrued to the prison operators and whether it will provide a revised answer to question S2W-16103.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The answer to S1W-33992 covered the period up to 3 March 2003. The answer to question S2W-16103 conveyed the fact that no instances have since occurred.

Prisoner Escorts

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was paid in VAT in respect of each payment to Reliance Secure Task Management Ltd under the contract for the provision of prisoner escort and court custody services.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  The information requested is provided in the following table.

  

Value Added Tax
 


April 2004
£90,701.22


May 2004
£113,801.79


June 2004
£122,791.69


July 2004
£142,733.77


August 2004
£149,555.18


September 2004
£164,926.95


October 2004
£131,628.26


November 2004
£205,238.56


December 2004
£247,428.15

Rail Network

Dennis Canavan (Falkirk West) (Ind): To ask the Scottish Executive what consideration it is giving to the provision of railway stations at High Bonnybridge, Allandale or Castlecary.

Nicol Stephen: The Scottish Executive awarded Falkirk Council £450,000 from the Public Transport Fund to undertake a feasibility study to improve rail services along the A80/M80 corridor. The study includes provision of a new station and park and ride facility at Allandale/Castlecary and lower level studies of other local stations including High Bonnybridge. We expect to receive the final report in the autumn for consideration.

Roads

Brian Adam (Aberdeen North) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has bought land intended to be used for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route under sections 103 and 104 of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 and, if so, which plots were purchased, what price was paid for each plot, who the payee was and what the date of entry is in each case.

Nicol Stephen: No land has been bought for the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route.

Security Industry

Mark Ballard (Lothians) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive whether Scotland is covered by the Security Industry Authority licensing scheme and, if not, when it is likely to be covered.

Cathy Jamieson: The Serious Organised Crime and Police Act 2005, which was the subject of a Sewel Motion debated in the Parliament on 2 February 2005, amended the Private Security Industry Act 2001 to extend the remit of the Security Industry Authority (SIA) to Scotland. Officials are currently working with the SIA towards implementation.

Skye Bridge

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-15738 by Nicol Stephen on 26 April 2005, why the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 demanding subscription does not apply to the Assignation Statement in respect of the Skye Bridge tolls, given that the act came into force two months before the Assignation Statement.

Nicol Stephen: Section 2 of the Requirements of Writing (Scotland) Act 1995 provides that certain categories of documents specified in section 1(2) of that act require to be subscribed in order to be valid. The Skye Bridge Assignation Statement does not fall into any of these categories.